Best Fitness Gurus on YouTube

Updated on January 31, 2012

Quick Online Fitness Routines

No gym membership? Limited time? No problem, thanks to some of the best fitness gurus on YouTube. In most cases, all you'll need is a mat and a pair of dumbbells to get the body you've been dreaming of.

ToneItUpcom

Karena and Katrina, the girls of ToneItUp, are the first online fitness gurus I discovered on YouTube. I remember doing curtsy lunges in my kitchen while my toddler fed herself a couple of years ago. I toned up, learned some new fitness moves, and also gleaned a few (okay, more than a few) nutrition tips from their YouTube channel and the ToneItUp.com website. The workouts are typically circuit-style, so your heart rate stays up while you strength train and you get quick results, plus you can pair them in any way you'd like in order to hit your trouble spots and tone up all over. Sign up for the newsletter on their website or follow them on Twitter for inspirational messages that make you want to get out and have as much fun being active as they seem to be.

SarahsFabChannel

I discovered Sarah's Fab Channel soon after I found ToneItUpCom. These online fitness videos are also quick, and Sarah seems like a fun, friendly girl who'd be easy to hang out (or work out!) with. She's also very responsive on Twitter; every time I've sent her a tweet, she's replied within a day or two. A lot of her videos target common problem areas and tell you exactly what they're meant to do (like burn 500 calories), and she incorporates weights, Pilates, and more into the workouts so you get a feel for what you enjoy doing most. There are also easy, healthy recipes like the Crock Pot Salsa Chicken and 100-Calorie Pumpkin Pie Bars that taste delicious and don't involve so many steps you feel like you're cooking dinner for 20 people instead of making a quick meal for yourself. I love that she has a sense of humor, too; if you scroll through the comments on her videos, you'll see that she knows what she's talking about, but doesn't take herself too seriously.

Blogilates/BlogilatesTV

If you think Pilates is an easy workout, you haven't tried any of YouTube fitness guru Cassey's videos. She has two channels to check out, but the most recent updates have been on BlogilatesTV. These Pilates workouts are set to popular songs, often focus on specific areas (though some are full-body) and Will. Kill. You. Well, almost. I'm still here to tell you about them, but let's just say that Winsor Pilates didn't wear me out like Blogilates does. A lot of these fitness videos are longer than most of the ones on YouTube, so be prepared to get your full workout in. You're not just limited to Pilates; you'll find a little bit of cardio kickboxing, general heart-thumping cardio, and some healthy eating advice.

TaraStilesYoga

Tara Stiles' approach to yoga creates a slippery slope. First I started watching the YouTube videos, then I had to have her Slim Calm Sexy Yoga book (fantastic, by the way). Then it was a couple of DVDs. I even tried to make it to one of her classes at her studio, Strala Yoga, when I was in New York but couldn't fit it into the schedule. The point is, if you sort of enjoy yoga or you've never tried it, try these free YouTube videos. I had never made yoga a real part of my routine until I discovered her. She's very laidback about it and doesn't make you feel like you're just not one of the cool kids if you can't do a handstand or crow pose. The videos are short and they are for a variety of things—for before bedtime, for your butt, for weight loss, for flexibility, etc.

YouTube online fitness gurus can help you jumpstart your routine or try out something new for free. If you're looking for new healthy recipes, you can get a few of those, too. No matter what you like—cardio routines, strength training, Pilates, or yoga, these girls know how to motivate you to work out more or in a different way and get into the best shape ever.